Ice skating

Ice skating is the self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-
bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive
sports, and commuting. Ice skating may be performed on naturally frozen bodies of water, such as
ponds, lakes, canals, and rivers; and on man-made ice surfaces such as ice rinks, ice hockey rinks, and
arenas, both indoors and outdoors.

Various formal sports involving skating have emerged since the 19th century. Ice hockey,
Bandy, and Ringette are team sports played with, respectively, a flat sliding puck, a ball and a rubber
ring. Figure skating, speed skating, Ice cross downhill and Barrel jumping are among the sporting
disciplines for individuals.

Early history of ice skating

Research suggests that the earliest ice skating happened in southern Finland more than 4,000
years ago. This was done to save energy during winter journeys. True skating emerged when a steel
blade with sharpened edges was used. Skates now cut into the ice instead of gliding on top of it. The
Dutch added edges to ice skates in the 13th or 14th century. These ice skates were made of steel, with
sharpened edges on the bottom to aid movement.

The fundamental construction of modern ice skates has stayed largely the same since then,
although differing greatly in the details, particularly in the method of binding and the shape and
construction of the steel blades. In the Netherlands, ice skating was considered proper for all classes of
people, as shown in many pictures from Dutch Golden Age painters.

Ice skating was also practiced in China during the Song dynasty, and became popular among
the ruling family of the Qing dynasty.